Device for loading the magazines of automatic guns



G. D. CAPITO Nov. 17, 195 3 DEVICE FOR LOADING THE MAGAZINES OFAUTOMATIC GUNS Filed Nov. 28, 1949 I N VEN TOR.

Patented Nov. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE DEVICE FOR LOADING THEMAGAZINES OF AUTOMATIC GUNS 2 Claims. 1

My invention relates to devices for loading the magazine of an automaticgun and the principal object of my invention is to provide new andimproved devices of this character.

My invention is particularly designed for use with an automatic gun ofthe Oerlikon 20 mm. type used in the recent war, but it will beappreciated that the invention is not limited to such use.

Automatic guns have a magazine containing a plurality of shells, suchmagazine feeding shells, one at a time, to the firing chamber of thegun. Because of the rapidity with which shells are fired by automaticguns of modern design one of the main problems is to load shells in themagazine to keep pace with firing action.

Heretofore, shells were loaded in the magazine by hand, usually one at atime. This is not only a time consuming operation but is also a tediousand strenuous operation. As a result the firing pace was always greaterthan the loading pace, necessitating use of a large number of men toload the magazines and thus drawing men away from other military duties.

My invention makes it possible to easily and safely transport shellswhich are carried in devices all ready for easy and rapid loading of thegun magazines so that considerable labor during loading operation iseliminated.

In the drawing accompanying this specification and forming a part ofthis application, there is shown, for purposes of illustration, anembodiment which my invention may assume, and in this drawing:

Figure l is a broken view of an embodiment of my invention connected tothe magazine of an automatic gun,

Figure 2 is a broken perspective view of the embodiment drawn to alarger scale, a portion of the magazine being shown separated from theembodiment,

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view correspondinggenerally to the line 3-3 of Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view correspondinggenerally to the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

The embodiment of my invention herein disclosed comprises a device ladapted to be easily connectable to and disconnectable from a magazine Ii of an automatic gun. The form of magazine herein shown comprises aspirally wound tube 22, generally rectangular in cross-section andadapted to store a plurality of shells, S as illustrated in Figure 1.

The magazine H, less the device I0, is adapted to be connected to theautomatic gun for the purpose of feeding shells to the firing chamber ofthe gun. A spring device I3 is generally used to push the shells Soutwardly of the magazine and to the firing chamber. The magazine ll mayhave pairs of bayonet pins I l extending from opposite sides adjacentits mouth for connection with the loading device Hi. It will beappreciated that the magazine herein shown is for illustrative purposesonly, and that my invention is not limited to operation therewith.

The device I0 comprises a container l5 of oblong formation andpreferably formed of sheet metal or other suitable sheet material. Thecontainer is preferably closed with the exception of an open end 16, andis formed at this open end with bayonet slots I! for connection with thebayonet pins M. It will be appreciated that any other suitableconnection means may be employed as long as such means provides quickand positive connection of the device It] with respect to the magazineII.

Within the container I5 is a casing i8 which may also be formed of sheetmetal or other'suitable material. The casing 18 is elongated and extendssubstantially the length of the container 55, and has an open end inrelation to the open end it of the container. The casing, in transversesection, is formed to generally follow the longitudinal contour of theshells S so that these shells are held in in-line relation in the casingbut are slidable longitudinally of the casing.

In usual practice the shells S are formed with a detonator cap portion59 and a firing cap portion 2!, and are usually painted, or otherwisemarked, in an area shown by the numeral 2| to aid in identifying thetype of shell. As an example, shells of the tracer, explosive and armorpiercing type may be painted different colors in the area 2| to assistin identifying such shells at a glance.

The casing I8 is formed to provide longitudinally extending recesses 22and 23 to provide clearance for the detonator cap portion l9 and firingcap portion 2|, respectively, so that such portions are alwaysmaintained out of contact with the casing, even when movedlongitudinally thereof. Thus, the shells may be transported, stored, orloaded into the magazine without danger of unexpected explosion.

The container I5 and casing 18 may be provided with alignedlongitudinally extending slots 2 i24 in opposite sides thereof so thatthe painted area 2| of each shell is visible from the exterior of thecontainer.

The container l5 and casing may also be provided with pairs of alignedlongitudinally extending slots 25 in opposite sides for a purpose to bepresently disclosed.

Means are provided for moving the shells S outwardly of the casing I8,and in the embodiment herein disclosed such means comprises a pusherplate 26 which may have an outline corresponding generally to thetransverse shape of hinge portion cooperable with'res'pective' hingeportions 28 to receive a hinge pin.

The respective hinge portions are so constructed and arranged that thehandles 29 may only be swung from full line to dotted 'line'posi-Handles 29 are connected to resp.ec

tion shown in Figure 2. In dotted line position the handles lie flatalong respective sides'o'f the container and thus do not interfere witheificient stackingof the containers; "In full line position, the handles29 may be grasped by an operator and athrusting force exerted so as toexert pushing force on the pusher plate 26, such force beinglater'allytransmitted through the shells S to move such shells outwardly of thecontainer l5 and into the magazine H when the container and magazine areconnected.

Means are provided to prevent the shells S from escaping from the casinglsduring'transportation or stacking and in the embodiment hereindisclosed such means comprises a movably mounted stop-plate S0 in onepositionlthe dotted position shown in Figure 2')"blo'cking outwardmovement of the shells, and in another position (the dot-dash positionshown in Figure 2) being out of the patriot theshells' so that theshells may be moved outwardly of the open end of the casing andcontainer.

"Any'suitable means may be used to maintain the stop-plate 39 in slidingrelation with the containerand casing, and in its blockingposition theplate may be locked and sealed to the container. The unblocking positionof the stopplate may be limited by an abutment 3! engageable with aportion of the casing or the container, or both, and in unblockingposition the plate 3!] may be constructed to lie along the upper side ofthe container; if desired.

In 'view of the foregoing, it will be apparent to those skilled in theart that I have accomplished at least the principal object of myinvention, andfit also will be aparent to those skilled in the art thatthe embodiment herein described may be variously changed and modified,without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that theinvention is'c'apable of uses andhas advantages not herein specificallydescribed; hence it will be appreciated that the herein disclosedembodiment is illustrative only, and that my invention is 'not limitedthereto.

I claim:

l. A transportable device for loading the magazine of an automatic gun,comprising: an oblong container; a casing within said container having atransverse wall generally following the longitudinal outline of a shelland being elongated to receive a plurality of shells generally inin-line relationship, said container and said casing having related openends at least one or which is connectable to said magazine, and saidcasing having longitudinally extending recesses at the detonator capportion and the firing cap portion of s'aid'shells so that saidshells'may be moved longitudinally of said casing and outward of itsopen end without engagement between said casing and said detonator capand firing cap portions, said container and said cas- 11, 2 havi a i nenin s r vi ng f view of aportion of 'at leastone shellto determineidentity of the type of shells carriedby said casing, and said containerand said casing having aligned longitudinally extending openingsopposite sides; pusher-plate means, adapted for movement longitudinallyof said container and engageable with the rear-most shell to transmit'pushing force laterally through said in-line shells whereby said, shellsare pushed outwardly of the open end of said casing and inwardly of saidmagazine, said pusher-plate means having arms extending outwardly ofsaid casing and container through-respective longitudinally extendingopenings, each arm having a handle pivotally carried thereby so thatsaid handles may be folded fiat against respective sides of saidcontainer, said handles being adapted for engagement by an operator forexertion of thrusting force on said pusher-plate means; and movablymounted stop-plate means, in one'position blocking outward movement ofsaid shells so that said container may be transported and stackedwithout loss of shells and without danger or explosion, and in anotherposition being out or me patn 01' said shells so that said shells may bedelivered to said magazine.

2. A device ior loading tne magazine of an automatic gun, comprising: acasing having an openmg adapted to be aligned with the opening or'saidmagazlne, said opening being or a width substantially equal to thediameter of a shell and being elongated to receive a plurality of shellsin in-line relationship, said casing hav ing longitudinally extendingslots in opposite sides; and pusher-plate means disposed for movementlongitudinally of said casing and en'- gageable with the rear-most shellto transmit pushing force through said in-line shells where'- by saidshells may be pushed outwardly of the open end of said casing andinwardly of said magazine, said pusher-plate means having'arms extendingthrough said slots and outwardly of said casing, and each arm having ahandle pivotally connected thereto so that said handles may be foldedfiat against respective sides of said casing, said handles being adaptedfor engagement by an operator for exertion of thrusting force on saidpusher-plate means,

GREGORY D. CAPITO.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 309,213 Elliot Dec. 16, 1884 1,158,981 Carl Nov. 2, 1915 1,30,972 Nelson June 17, 1919 1,447,860 Johnston Mar. 6, 1923 2,237,712Mullins Apr. 8, 1941 2,239,067 Owsley July 7, 1942 2,441,735 Warner May18, 1948 2,262,836 Barker Mar. 1, 19 9 FOREIGN PATENTS Number CountryDate 306,389 Germany Feb. 13, 1920 306,390 Germany Aug. 17, 1921 379,179Great Britain Aug. 25, 1932 826,713 France Jan. 12, 1 938

